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Songbird of the Sorrows (Myths of the Empyrieos)
Braidee Otto
4.3
Illusion of Stars
by Sarah Marie Page
Published Jul 16, 2024
About this book
Isabel serves as the royal physician on a windswept island, balancing her duties to a crumbling monarchy with the quiet life she has built for herself. That stability shatters when her best friend is found murdered on the shore. Driven by grief and a thirst for justice, Isabel uncovers evidence that the neighboring kingdom of Volgaard is preparing to unleash a catastrophic weapon.
Determined to stop them, she infiltrates the enemy’s court with a singular, dangerous objective: get close to Erik Lothgarson, the brooding general’s son, and steal the weapon that threatens her home. Erik is as lethal as he is captivating, wielding illusion magic that makes reality feel like a shifting, unreliable dream. To survive her mission, Isabel must engage him in a high-stakes game of seduction and deceit, playing the role of a devoted lover while hunting for his darkest secrets.
Yet, as she draws closer to Erik, the line between her manufactured persona and her genuine desire begins to vanish. In a world where vision is easily manipulated and trust is a death sentence, Isabel must decide if her vengeance is worth the price of a heart caught in the crossfire of war.
Available Formats
Hardcover: $29.99 Paperback: $19.99
What readers are saying
KestraGood story. Bad writing.
"Let me say this first, I did very much enjoy the book, the story was good and the characters felt very realistic. It was refreshing. The premise of this book is why I read it, a cleaner romantasy with a humble and soft heroine thrusted into a pivotal role of a plot much bigger than her. That's my jam. Sadly I was slapped early on by a jarring introduction of a narrative and repeatedly afterwards by said narrative that did not match the storytelling and broke the flow altogether. It is a writing style that screamed of trying too hard to be poetic and impactful but failed when the immersion was broken by the sudden shift of storytelling to poetry for one sentence then back to storytelling. Don't tell me there's not enough time to do something, tell me about how the hands shake, the heart beats harder, and how you can't focus yet get tunnel vision and time is no longer measureable. The poetry can work for inner monolog but not actions. This story is worth saving I just wish there was a better editor. ["
November 7, 2025 Verified Purchase
JenetteAhhhhh!
"How am I supposed to feel? I feel GREAT—also completely DESTROYED. This book is so good! I devoured it in a day. Isabel is SUCH a relatable character. She’s been convinced she’s a nobody—by her family, by others, and worst of all, by herself. She’s trying so hard to prove she’s enough to everyone around her. Poor girl just wants to be seen! Isn’t that such a universal experience? What’s my purpose? Who am I, really? Those are big questions—and this book handles them so well. I absolutely fell in love with the romance. It was so easy to see WHY they were together. They really SAW each other (iykyk). I loved the banter, the seriousness, and the sweet moments. Also—I’m trying to stay spoiler-free—but I just have to say: I KNEW IT. I KNEW IT. I KNEW IT. IMMEDIATELY. As soon as that royal said that one thing, the pieces clicked. Such a great twist! If you're not looking for it, you could totally miss it—but the breadcrumbs are there! Book 2 cannot come out fast enough. I’m absolutely invested. Content: Descriptive kissing, language. ["
July 5, 2025 Verified Purchase
THOTouching theme
"For most of this book, I was rating this as a solid 3-star read in my head, but with too many flaws (slow pacing, overly dramatic writing, awkward plot) to be more. Then at the end things came together nicely and the theme of the story struck a nice chord, and I decided to gift it one more star. It’s a rather slow-paced book, so be warned about that, but I enjoyed the story. And while I mostly liked the romance, I think labeling it “Dramione-coded” was misleading. Technically Isabel and Erik are enemies, but they don’t act like it. And their dynamic doesn’t feel very Dramione. It’s a good relationship with some very touching moments, but it’s its own thing, just an FYI for anyone coming in and expecting Dramione. I'm excited for book two. I hope now that Erik and Isabel are a thing their relationship starts to feel more natural. And I hope it has as much action as the second half of the book. ["
August 26, 2024 Verified Purchase
Tiffany keeHealing
"This is a healing book that will take you on a journey that most people are not ready for. You have PTSD, healing, and a 17 year trying to find herself. This book might not before everyone. ["
October 7, 2025 Verified Purchase